Favorite Pet Costume -- So Far

Pet owners, take a bow.

You've come up with some great ways to dress up your faithful companions this Halloween season. My favorite -- so far -- comes from the Howloween Pawrade sponsored by the good folks at Happy Dog Healthy Dog on Sunday at Rockford Park in Wilmington. Enjoy!

That's Riddick, the toy Manchester terrier, who won first place (scariest category) and is being held by his owner, Maegan Burton in a photo taken by Fred Comegys.

Look for a photo gallery and video further down and to the left on this Web page.

Get Your Pet History Lesson Here

Pet lovers are passionate people. On Nov. 9, Katherine Grier, a professor of material culture studies in the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture, will explain where some of that passion comes from, and how and why pets are so important in our lives.

Grier has written "Pets in America: A History," and in her lecture at Hagley's Library building she'll talk about the marketing of pets and pet products, give attendees a brief history of pets in America, and explore the role the pet industry plays in our culture. After the lecture, she will take questions and sign copies of her book, which will be available for purchase.

The 7 p.m. lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. Call 658-2400. To get to the library, enter via Hagley's Buck Road East entrance off Del. 100.

More Furry Fall Festival Photos

As promised Ginger Wall added more photos from Faithful Friends' Oct. 15 Furry Fall Festival, which executive director Jane Pierantozzi said raised $15,000 for the Wilmington no-kill shelter. Look for more shots in the Dec. 1 issue of Delaware Pets. (Shameless plug.)

TOP PHOTO: Mali Ashmead, 9, with Cosmo, a Basset-Daschund mix, and Suzie Ashmead of Lincoln University, Pa., and her terrier mix, Buttercup

SECOND: Mary Clayton of Newark with her pugs Abby (left) and Cammie.

THIRD: Chico, a 5-year-old Chihuahua, snuggles with Sandy Leigh of Hockessin.

FOURTH: Derrick Robinson and Abby Huwer of Newark, with her Yorkie Charlie.

BOTTOM PHOTO: Erica Reen of Wilmington holds Summer, her 3-month-old German shepherd.

Don't Even Think About a Black Cat for Halloween

Even if your a cat person with nothing but goodwill in your heart, you are not going to be able to adopt a black cat from a shelter until after Halloween. (OK, Patrick Carroll at the Delaware Humane Association tells me they don't have that rule.) But a lot of shelters do it to make sure animals aren't being adopted for any of the wrong reasons.

If you have a black cat at home, make sure you keep him or her inside. As a Kent County SPCA flier says, "The mythology about black cats being related to witches can lead strange people to do strange things to them." Don't even give those "strange people" an opportunity.

The one place you might want to take your black cat is to the Delaware Humane Association shelter in Wilmington. The shelter is hosting a free black cat spay/neuter day on Halloween (Tuesday). You need to call to schedule a appointment -- 571-0111 -- and only 98 percent black cats will be accepted.

Ryan Phillippe on 'Flags of Our Fathers'

Delaware's Ryan Phillippe is the emotional anchor of "Flags of Our Fathers," an adaptation of the best-selling book about the men behind the famous flag-raising during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Phillippe, who starred in last year's Academy Award-winning "Crash," gets another top-flight role as John "Doc" Bradley, a Navy Corpsman who treats the wounded, and happens to be there on the top of the mountain when the flag is raised. Phillippe is self-assured and smooth, but conveys Bradley's underlying reluctance to be be labeled a hero, and his vulnerability at seeing so many lives shattered.

If you see "Flags," make sure you stay through the credits to see B&W photos of the real men and the real battle. Most people stayed and were reverentially quiet as the photos changed.

A Dr. John Dykstra Update

I talked with Dr. John Dyskstra's office this afternoon about his court appearance in Philadelphia in his immigration case. He got a five-month extension, which sounds like good news.

Dr. Dykstra is a veterinarian for cows and goats, and owns Eastern Shore Veterinary Hospital near Laurel. His wife, Dr. Sarah Dykstra died in August after being hit by an SUV while jogging near their Seaford home. John Dykstra's immigration problems apparently came to light when he buried his wife in Canada, where the two had met at vet school on Prince Edward Island.

We're not sure exactly what Dykstra's immigration status is because he's not talking to The News Journal. I'm sure he doesn't want to jeopardize his standing with the court, but we understand members of the congressional delegation are helping with his case.

Go Ahead, Try to Resist a Cute Puppy

It's Monday. Who doesn't need to see a cute puppy video to put a smile on your face after another tough Eagles loss?

Do You Emu?

You kind of forget that animal control means all animals. Even emus.

The Kent County SPCA, which handles animal control for the entire state, was called to pick up an emu running at large. Officials are hoping to find a farm home for Matilda, the big brown bird (that's not her in the photo -- it's a generic emu to give you can idea of what they look like). In the meantime, she seemed happy and playful when I visited this week.

Emus generally are raised on farms -- with more than 5,000 farms in the U.S. and at least a couple in Delaware. An adult emu weighs 125 to 150 pounds and is 5 to 6 feet tall.

A Sad Twist to a Sad Story

Remember Dr. Sarah Dykstra, the vet who died in August after being hit by an SUV while jogging near her Seaford home?

She left behind her husband, John Dykstra, a fellow vet, and three children, ages 3, 5 and 10. It was a terribly sad story.

John Dykstra buried his wife in Canada, where the two met in vet school. Now, he might be ordered to return to his native country -- he's got a court date Monday. He has until then to get his wife's estate in order and leave the country.

The Dykstras had operated Eastern Shore Veterinary Hospital near Laurel and been part of the comunity for more than a decade.

When she died, people found this blog to leave remembrances. Pet owners, high school and college classmates and even their babysitter left notes. They said Sarah was "serene, sweet, humble and extremely knowledgeable. She would answer each of my endless questions with sensitive care." "I feel so lucky to have known her." "It was a privilege for my dogs to be in her care." "I thought she was as beautiful inside as she was outside." "She was an awesome lady." "Sarah Dykstra was extraordinary."

I don't know what kind of problems Dr. John Dykstra is having with immigration officials, but I am hoping he and the government can find a resolution.

The Sims Get Pets

Sims 2 Pets trailer


The Sims aren't enough trouble, now they're going to get pets?

"The Sims 2 Pets" ($29.99) hits stores today, and gives the Sims people -- who always seem to need something -- the ability to have pets. They can adopt a dog or cat or other creature, they can take in a stray or they can buy one from a pet store. And they get to customize their pets -- talk about genetic engineering -- including breed, coat color, and facial and body features. Plus, if they turn out to be too much work for you -- in addition to tending to the Sims people -- you can hire a trainer for a small fee.

EA Games adds the celebrity factore with Hilary Duff and her pet Chihuahua Lola. I found a review at Game Daily. If you're a player, is this a good add-on? Do pets up the fun and challenge of "Sims"?

The 'Red Dogs' Are Coming to Dover

The Vizslas are coming, the Vizslas are coming ... to Dover and to Harrington and to Queenstown, Md., later this week and all next week.

About 600 Vizslas, sometimes called Hungarian or Magyar Pointers, are expected for the Vizsla National Dog Events on Oct 18-28. Most of the competitions will take place at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover.

The "red dogs" of Hungarian extraction excel at hunting, tracking, agility and obedience. Gene Thornton, who tipped us to the event and whose Mattapex Brandywine (dog at left with Renaissance Heavenly Maid) will compete, says the dogs are full of energy and loads of fun, and their short coat and friendly demeanor make them a great family pet.

Thorton said about 100 each will compete in Agility, Hunting, Obedience and the AKC’s newest sport, Rally. The remainder will strut their stuff in the breed ring to vie for Best in Specialty Show. The schedule:

* Agility will take place early this Wednesday morning at the Quillen Arena on the Delaware State Fair Grounds in Harrington.
* Obedience and Rally and Sweepstakes will take place at the Sheraton Hotel beginning early Thursday morning.
* Breed judging will also take place at the Sheraton. Dogs in various age groups will be shown throughout the day Friday through Sunday.
* Field Trials (bird hunting) will be conducted on Wye Island, Queenstown, Md., from Oct 23-28.

The public is invited to watch the events. Admission is free. Vendors will be on hand. Event organizers asks that you do bring pet dogs to this show; it is limited to pre-registered Vizslas.

Photos from Furry Fall Festival

Faithful Friends, the no-kill shelter in Wilmington, does a wonderful job of saving homeless animals and finding them new homes. To keep that commitment, the shelter not only needs the passion and the hard work of its employees and volunteers, but it also needs money.

Sunday, Faithful Friends hosted its annual Furry Fall Festival at St. Anthony in the Hills in Avondale, Pa. We'll get a dollar figure later, but I wanted to share some of the photos -- taken by The News Journal's Ginger Wall -- from the event that featured a walk, costume contest, pet tricks, live music and lots of fun.

Top photo: Debbie Pinno of Wilmington and her 4-year-old greyhound rescue Flossie.

Middle photo: Boo-Bear, a Labrador mix up for adoption, gets a hug from Savanna Hulsey, 3, of Newark.

Bottom photo: Barbara Freda of New London, Pa., parades with her pugs and bulldog Gunny (in the U.S. Marines T-shirt).

Don't Forget: Furry Fall Festival on Sunday

It's always fun to be out and about with you pet -- and in costume this time of the year. The perfect event this weekend is Faithful Friends' Furry Fall Festival at St. Anthony in the Hills.

The festival, a fundraiser for the no-kill shelter in Wilmington, is from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday (rain or shine) at The Hills in Avondale, Pa. Registration is from 11:30-noon; a "strut your mutt" walk around the lake starts at 12:15 p.m.

Admission is $10 for the festival; children 5 and younger get in free. For the walk, a minimum $25 donation/pledge is requested ($25 minimum covers admission, T-shirt, bottled water and snacks for walker and pet). Special prizes for pledge money raised over $250.

Even if you don't participate in the walk, there's also a pet costume contest, hayrides, lots of pet business vendors, plenty of food and live music. Not a bad way to spend a crisp, fall afternoon with your dog and your friends. To get more info or to register, go to Faithful Friends' Web site.

Do You Know Any Chopin?

Hang in there for a few seconds ... it's worth the wait (and the shaky camera).

Congratulations to WKC's Cheryl Costello

You can thank Cheryl Costello the next time you see a pet with a mask over its nose after a house fire. She was the driving force -- along with her colleagues at the Wilmington Kennel Club -- to outfit all of New Castle County's 36 firehouses with pet-resuscitation masks.

The American Kennel Club thanked her in its own way. The group named her a recipient of the AKC Community Achievement Award for "her dedication to protecting the canines in her community." Costello was one of three winners nationwide.

Costello was nominated by WKC club secretary, Martha Doerner, who praised Costello's "dogged determination to see that every pet in New Castle County has the same chance of surviving a fire as their owners."

Costello found the masks, brought the project to the Wilmington Kennel Club board and helped to make it happen. The club demonstrated the masks at its annual dog show in April, and made the official presentation there to fire officials.

Costello received a certificate of appreciation and a $1,000 check payable to the club or federation's public education and canine legislation efforts.

Woooo, That's a Scary Party Collar

Looking for a Halloween-themed party collar for your pooch? One of the best places to find them is Whiskazz and Pawzz in Hockessin.

Owner Alyce Duffy has them in the expected orange, black and orange-and-black color schemes, with bats, spiders, pumpkins, ghosts and skulls dangling from the ends.

This and That from the Weekend and Beyond

Allow me a few rants and raves:

Rant: They've killed "Kidnapped." At 10 p.m. Wednesdays. The good news is NBC is going to let them resolve the kidnapping. The bad news: No more Dana Delany -- find that woman a job. I'm thinking about watching "Jericho" or "Uggly Betty" as a replacement.

Rave: Tried Five Guys Famous Burger and Fries at its new location in Bear on U.S. 40. Best fries I have ever had. The burger is huge -- two patties, so have the "little" version on the menu -- and call in your order (832-7555) so you don't have to wait.

Rant: No "Lassie" at the movies. The updated version never showed in Delaware or Philly. Something against collies? Good news: It's available on DVD starting Nov. 14.

Rave: Terrific photos from the Blessing of the Animals on Saturday at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in Wilmington. (Can load images right now. Will try later.) The Rev. Canon Lloyd Casson really loves animal -- and his work.

Tasha, the Singing Mastiff

Karen has this great dog -- Tasha, a 100+-pound Mastiff. She's as gentle as can be, and Karen even brings her to work. Most of the time she rests on her blankie, but when Karen goes off to check on something, Tasha is sure to amble behind, dragging her leash. So, here's a tribute to Tasha, as put together by Jeffrey.

A Bacon-Flavored, Glow-in-the Dark Puppy Chew

A puppy has to chew. That's just destiny, and Nylabone has come up wiith a flexible chew that's designed for teething puppies, smells good (to them) and is fun for the pup's owner.

Puppy Fish comes in bacon flavor and has a glow-in-the-dark skeleton (just expose it to light). It's made of a soft thermoplastic polymer -- and comes in cool pink and blue colors -- that helps with the growth and development of your puppy's teeth and jaws. Good stuff, and not a bad price -- $8.49 for a medium.

The sales person at Concord Pet in Peoples Plaza offered one admonition: If you have a strong chewer, watch for signs that they're about to rip off the the tail or fin.

Open House at Faithful Friends

Faithful Friends is ready to show off its new digs at 12 Germay Drive. The no-kill shelter in Wilmington is having an open house from 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Executive Director Jane Pierantozzi says the shelter moved from a 2,500-square-foot location just down the street to its 5,000-square-foot setup.

And if you'd like to get a house-warming gift, one thing that the shelter really needs is more cat care volunteers, especially from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays. Call 427-8514, ext. 6 for more info on what you'd have to do.

Cats: They Can Put on a Real Show

... and we can be so entertained!

A Singing Rabbit, a Dark and Stormy Night and Skittles

YouTube has returned. I'll try not to abuse the privilege.

You Can't Pass up a Pet Blessing

The Rev. Canon Lloyd Casson has a soft spot in his heart for animals, including his own Shih Tzu named Zac. As pastor of the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in Wilmington he also has a soft spot for the spiritual well-being of animals.

Casson presides over the annual Blessing of the Animals, with this year's event at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church, 719 N. Shipley St. It is open to pet owners of all faiths. After a brief liturgy, each animal will receive a blessing, a St. Francis medallion and treats.

If your pet requires special handling -- I'm thinking if it's a snake or pot-bellied pig -- or precautions, call the church at 656-6628.

Happy Hanukkah to Our Pets -- in October

Long ago I stopped being amazed at the pet products I see. (OK, that was a lie. I am still amazed.) Here's my new favorite -- the 13-inch Interactive Menorah Plush Toy ($26.86 at funstufffordogs.com with nine, removable plush candles.

Happy Hanukkah, indeed, to all my furry friends.

What I Learned at the Walk for the Animals

You can learn plenty if you just look and listen. Here's what I learned Sunday at the Delaware Humane Association's Walk for the Animals at Banning Park in Newport:

* Last year, 250 people registered for the walk. This year, 500. Great turnout on a great day. Even the rain stayed away. For more photos from the walk, click here and then click on "Walk for the Animals" under Gallery.
* Gomer, the very-friendly white and brindle pit bull mix I met last month at the humane association, was adopted. In the near right photo, he nestled in the lap of the humane association's Kimberly Hall. Good for Gomer.
* Favorite T-Shirt: "Love Is a Four-Legged Word."
* "Dujanah" in Arabic means "rain." Dujanah is the name of Carol Miller's miniature daschund, both of whom participated in the walk.
* Leave it to a librarian to name her two Brussels Griffons after Shakespearean characters. Arden Lantz, a librarian at the Delaware School for the Deaf, (photo at far right) has Horatio( left) named for a character in "Hamlet," and Macduff from "Macbeth." Lantz of Newport was part of a 10-member team -- Delaware School for the Deaf: Happy Tails.
* A 3-year-old, 150-pound chocolate brown Newfoundland can be one of the best-behaved dogs among hundreds. Forest's owner, Cathy Capone of Pike Creek, says the secret is treating dogs like dogs, not like humans.

Kudos to the humane association, its volunteers and sponsors for a walk well done!